Visitors to the Olympic Museum can leave messages in a book to mark the anniversary ©NOCU

National Olympic Committee of Ukraine (NOCU) are set to mark their 25th anniversary with a series of sporting events throughout the country on December 22.

The date is the official anniversary of the founding of the NOCU in 1990, proceeding the country’s independence from the Soviet Union in 1991.

The NOCU, however, were only permanently recognised by the International Olympic Committee in September 1993.

Sports and solemn events are being arranged in all regions of Ukraine, which will include meetings with famous personalities of the Olympic Movement and masterclass sessions held by prominent Olympians.

In addition to sporting competitions, a series of scientific and educational forums, seminars and press conferences are also set to be staged.

The NOCU, led by 1988 Olympic pole vault champion and International Olympic Committee (IOC) member Sergey Bubka, are also calling upon the international community to pass on their congratulations.

Ukraine have participated in a total of six Winter and five Summer Olympic Games since their independence ©Getty Images
Ukraine have participated in a total of six Winter and five Summer Olympic Games since their independence ©Getty Images

A wishes book was placed in the Olympic Museum in Lausanne, Switzerland, at the start of December with all vistors being given the opportunity to leave a message for the NOCU as part of the celebrations.

The book is set to be returned to the Ukraine at a later date with the NOCU claiming it will be filled with the “positive energy, good intentions and warm wishes” of the museum’s vistors.

Since the NOCU’s founding, Ukraine's athletes have established themselves as one of the most successful countries at the Olympics, competing in five Summer and six Winter Games.

They finished 14th overall at London 2012 with a total of 14 medals, including six gold, while at Sochi 2014 they matched their best-ever performance in the Winter Olympics.

There, they won a gold and bronze medal to place 20th, their highest position for 16 years.



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